George Ainslie

George Ainslie is an American psychologist known for his work on the concept of hyperbolic discounting, which explores how people tend to prefer smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones. This theory helps explain why individuals might struggle with self-control, such as procrastination or unhealthy eating. Ainslie's research combines psychology, economics, and behavioral science, contributing to our understanding of decision-making and human behavior. He also introduced the idea of "time inconsistency," which further illuminates the challenges of making rational long-term choices in the face of tempting short-term options.